An iceberg goes poof with a bang

On May 27 some drone footage of an iceberg off of Bacon Cove Head was reported in the media.  Today Hazen and I decided it was time to go check it out.

We drove to Conception Harbour where we put in to paddle North to Bacon Cove.  But first we ...

... we checked out the sunken wreck of a ship.  Its the signature attraction in Conception Harbour for us.

After hanging out at the wreck for a while we headed north toward Bacon Cove and the reported iceberg.

As we came around Bacon Cove Point the iceberg came into view but it was a long way off.

We kept paddling and the berg got bigger.  Well, closer.  When we got to about a kilometer away we heard a loud bang and a piece broke off and crashed into the water.  A few seconds passed and another piece broke off; and another and the thing just kept breaking apart.  I was dismayed because I wasn't going to be able to see it in its huge, majestic state.

This is a screen shot of it (please note the lagoon in the center) before it collapsed and ...

... this is what was left after the crashing and banging was over.  I figured I was between about 100 meters from the remnant when I took this shot.  It looked like it was surrounded on all sides by a similar amount of broken ice.

Here's a link to a video posted on Facebook from a boat in the vicinity that captured the collapse.

A lot of the ice that was shed was small but several larger chunks floated in the debris field.

Hazen and I paddled to the north side where some of the floating ice began to disperse.  The berg had rolled and the underside smoothed by the water had come to the surface on the left.

We continued to circle the berg.  On the NW side there was no floating ice.

The extent of the roll was evident from the NW side as we got a little closer but still at a safe distance.  We were forewarned!  The area occupied by the lagoon in a previous picture was now tilted down almost vertical (left of center, semi-circle). 

My signature cap that I've had forever was no longer fit to wear.  I bought a new one which I wore today on its inaugural paddle.  Still supporting Oranje!

Back on the south side the ice surrounding the berg had not dispersed  Some of the ice was just slivers that was refreshing as it melted in my mouth.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a piece home to drop in a glass of rum as it would have melted before I could get it there.

We took one last look before heading back to the takeout.

I believe we act safely near icebergs.  I can't speculate how close we would have approached had the berg not broken up.  But I will say that once the berg did begin to collapse we would have urgently had to paddle away.  When it started I could see pieces of ice flying a considerable distance.  Hazen and I discussed it.  We felt in this case a distance of 5 times the perceived height would have been appropriate.

It was only one berg but due to its collapse, it provided a fun and awe inspiring day showcasing the power in icebergs.  Stay safe near icebergs; discretion is the best part of valour!

Looking for the Cambrian explosion

Saturday I joined Brian, Dean, Derrick, Hazen, Neville and Sue for a paddle around the Colliers Peninsula.  The first order of business was to shuttle the cars a short distance from Conception Harbour to Colliers.  Hazen and Sue stayed to keep an eye on the gear.

When we got back to Conception Harbour we got ready to get on the water.  Everyone noted Hazen was on the water first because it was unusual.

With all hands on the water we made our way north and out of Gasters Bay.

The mouth of the bay opened up the further north we paddled.

Paddling under cliffs of red siltstone.

Further along the shoreline the land came down to meet the water.

Dean checking out a small run of water in this little nook.

At Bacon Cove we stopped to stretch our legs and we had a ...

... geology lesson on unconformities.  Here we're standing on mid-Proterozoic Conception siltstones.  The siltstones date anywhere between 1 billion and 1.5 bilion years old.  Precise dating is not possible as sedimentary rocks are generally dated with reference to fossils and these rocks were deposited prior to multi-cellular life.

The Conception rocks were uplifted and eroded over a long period of time before the sea held sway again in the Cambrian period to deposit a basal layer of conglomerate.  The students *lol* point to the contact.  The Cambrian period began 542 million years ago at a time when lifeforms exploded and diversified.

We continued on paddling between steeply dipping rocks to our left and ...

... over kelp beds.

At Colliers Point we paddled into this little cove where we ...

... took out and stopped for lunch.  The forecast was for rain and while we did have the occasional sprinkle, it was warm without wind.  It was shaping up to be a large day.

To be continued ...

Paddling on the edge of time and place

There's always the decision where to paddle?  After a while places start to become familiar.  This weekend we decided on Avondale.  The last time I paddled in the area was on April 13th this year so that decided it.  We drove the 40 odd kilometers from the city and got ready to put-in on the side of the river in Avondale.

We paddled out under the bridge into Masons Cove.  The air temperature was 4C, as was the water temp.

Neville paddles along the low lying shoreline where trees grew down near the water's edge.

Brian paddles across Broad Cove on still waters.  That would change dramatically.  The ocean wave model showed 2 - 2.5 meter waves offshore rolling in from the north.  Avondale sits at the bottom of Gasters Bay, though protected, is open to the north.  I anticipated more once we paddled further north.

After handrailing our way into Conception Harbour we made our usual visit to this derelict, sunken whaling vessel before heading north ...

... where at Mugfords Head the cliffs became a bit more imposing.

We began to feel a bit more swell which created foam on the water.

Near 12:00 and lunch time we reached Bacon Cove.  While the guys set about extracting lunch from their hatches, I went exploring along the rocky shoreline.

The swell was really crashing in over the rocks I wanted to check out.  Under my feel lay ...

... an unconformity between rocks of the Ediacaran Period and the Cambrian at 542 million years ago.  An unconformity forms when rocks are exposed, eroded and after a gap in time new sedimentary deposits are laid on top of the exposed surface.  Here, though its difficult to see due to the light and wet rocks, a basal layer of Cambrian conglomerate lays on top of Conception Group siltstones.  Its hard to see so ...

... here's a sun-drenched shot I took on a solo trip February 26th, 2009.

Lunch consumed, we headed further north to Colliers Point where we expected to see some significant wave action.  After bobbing on the water marveling at the power of the waves we crossed Gasters Bay to Salmon Cove Point.

I paddled as close to shore as was prudent, paddling just on the edge of where the 2 meter waves broke as they rushed to the rocky shore.  Take a short detour to Dean's Blog where he has some good shots of the wave action.

The slot at Salmon Cove Point was not passable today so ...

... we turned south into the early setting sun and into Avondale.  When we took out the temperature had dropped to 0C.  Our hands lost their dexterity as we loaded the kayaks but it was soon restored by gripping a cup of steaming hot coffee.  Altogether an excellent bit of adventure on December 7th with another 27 kms paddled.

Here are the breadcrumbs.

Looking for the Cambrian explosion

Saturday Dean, Peter and I drove to Avondale with the paddling destination of Bacon Cove.  I don't know how Bacon Cove got its name but one thing of interest there is an angular unconformity between the Late Proterozoic rocks of the Conception Bay Group and a basal conglomerate of Cambrian age.  The Cambrian period saw the explosion of various life forms that ultimately led to the evolution of the highly intelligent kayak paddler.

We put in beside the river that flows into Masons Cove that today was ...

... so calm it reflected the passage of my kayak colleagues.

We were soon out of Masons Cove and into Gasters Bay ...

... handrailing on the way to ...

... Conception Harbour to check out this sunken, rusting hulk.  Its not very scenic but its a must stop.  I don't think anyone paddling in the area misses out on having a look around.

We were soon on our way north again past Mugford's Head where we left calm waters to paddle in ...

... more active waters.  I had checked the ocean wave model before leaving and expected some swell but yet I was surprised by the amount of water rolling into the bay.  Nothing challenging just large, broad open masses of water.

We arrived at Bacon Cove landing without incident and had a lunch.  Afterwards we went looking for the outcrop with the unconformity but I couldn't locate it.  It was odd because I had been there before though its not unusual for me to have it right under my eyes an still not see it.

Dean and Pete launched untroubled.  I made a mess of it and had a swim but more on that another time.

Back on the water, still smarting from the blow to my pride, we crossed Gasters Bay to the east side.  In the distance the razorback appearance of the Blue Hills of Avondale rise 850 feet above the bay.

We set our sights on the white church in Avondale where we washed the salt out of our gear in the river, had a coffee and called it another glorious day on the water.

Check out Dean's Blog with his take on the day.